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Correctional Billing Services Complaint - Extortion, Monopoly, and unfair rules to make more money
Complaint
I am writing this review to see if there has been anyone to actually DO something about CBS taking advantage of families already in despair. I'd love to know if anyone has been successful in getting something done about this company. [snip]
Since this IS a review board, I'll go ahead with a short review. I have a long list of complaints, but I'll just give the most recent. I have VOIP phone service (ooma), and I am able to purchase a local number through OOMA to where my sister is incarcerated. This worked fine for quite some time, as it is $3 each time she calls. This is still expensive two-three times each week, but it is bearable.
I'm not sure how my account looks different on their end, but they somehow knew I used ooma. They said your phone company uses "call forwarding", so I can't use it. They suggested I get a new phone company or one of their new cell phones.
I will say that the customer service reps have been much more polite over the last 6 months, so I gather there have been some changes there. However polite, they were not very helpful in this case. I asked to speak to a supervisor. He told me how my phone company offers a "security risk", because they can't tell who the call is coming from. I told them that my name appears on the caller ID, and that my address is on the account like any phone. The only difference is that it is local, and I live an hour away. He THEN told me that they don't make enough money doing it that way, and that that my phone number would be permanently blocked. He said I'll have to get a new number, but that would probably be blocked too. He said I'll have to switch phone companies or use their new cellular service.
When you play by their CRAZY rules and hoops for years, and it comes down to them just wanting more money, I believe this is sickening! I HATE when people are bullied, especially people who are already down and taking a major hit.
I could go on with other instances, but I'll spare you for now. If anyone has useful information about what rights we have an what we can do about these unfair practices, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Chris
Since this IS a review board, I'll go ahead with a short review. I have a long list of complaints, but I'll just give the most recent. I have VOIP phone service (ooma), and I am able to purchase a local number through OOMA to where my sister is incarcerated. This worked fine for quite some time, as it is $3 each time she calls. This is still expensive two-three times each week, but it is bearable.
I'm not sure how my account looks different on their end, but they somehow knew I used ooma. They said your phone company uses "call forwarding", so I can't use it. They suggested I get a new phone company or one of their new cell phones.
I will say that the customer service reps have been much more polite over the last 6 months, so I gather there have been some changes there. However polite, they were not very helpful in this case. I asked to speak to a supervisor. He told me how my phone company offers a "security risk", because they can't tell who the call is coming from. I told them that my name appears on the caller ID, and that my address is on the account like any phone. The only difference is that it is local, and I live an hour away. He THEN told me that they don't make enough money doing it that way, and that that my phone number would be permanently blocked. He said I'll have to get a new number, but that would probably be blocked too. He said I'll have to switch phone companies or use their new cellular service.
When you play by their CRAZY rules and hoops for years, and it comes down to them just wanting more money, I believe this is sickening! I HATE when people are bullied, especially people who are already down and taking a major hit.
I could go on with other instances, but I'll spare you for now. If anyone has useful information about what rights we have an what we can do about these unfair practices, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Chris
Comments:
Posted by KingJames on 2010-01-16:
noandyes. who are you to judge another that you don't know from adam? there's no need for that here, so knock it off. the review is not about what the sister did to get herself locked up.
the review is about the outright thievery these companies are getting away with and it's ridiculous. obviously someone's making money that shouldn't be or the gov't woulda stepped in by now and began stricter regulations.
the review is about the outright thievery these companies are getting away with and it's ridiculous. obviously someone's making money that shouldn't be or the gov't woulda stepped in by now and began stricter regulations.
Posted by justthefaxx on 2010-01-16:
It sounds like the FCC should be alerted to these practices. They're charter is to foster competition to keep prices down for consumers. They are supposed to shut down monopolies wherever they occur. It should be the same for communications with incarcerated persons.
Posted by raven2002 on 2010-01-16:
Ummm.yeah...addy needs to remove the advertisement for the OP's "services" in this review.
Posted by jktshff1 on 2010-01-16:
KJ, I see where you are coming from but, the gubment is making money off the programs. From what little I can find out, a portion of the proceeds goes to the facility being called for "administration" fees. I appreciate the "donations" to the incarcerated's upkeep.
Personally, I have no problem with this type of program. (yes I've had someone incarcerated and just did not call them). It's called paying for the crime. Yes the family or friends did not commit the crime and my sympathy goes out to them. but the one they need to be complaining to and the one to blame for their difficulties is the incarcerated one.
Personally, I have no problem with this type of program. (yes I've had someone incarcerated and just did not call them). It's called paying for the crime. Yes the family or friends did not commit the crime and my sympathy goes out to them. but the one they need to be complaining to and the one to blame for their difficulties is the incarcerated one.
Posted by abuscemi on 2010-02-27:
My husband recently got incarcerated for 6 months and a 15 minute phone call is $15.00... They want to isolate the inmates, make it impossible for them to know what is going on in the real world... let them speak to their children, families!!! I understand he made a mistake and he is where he is for a reason, but completely taking them away from everything isnt rehabilitation it makes things worse... I dont know what our rights are but im determined to figure them out and try to make it easier for these people to stay in contact with their loved ones... I consider it double dipping, not only do i have to pay my phone bill i also have to pay a 5 dollar connection fee, 0.69 cents a minute.. and have to prepay for the calls and get charged 8.00 to add money to the account..
Posted by PepperElf on 2010-02-27:
actually they do not block communications. USPS is still an option, though it takes more effort
Posted by bearkatkitten on 2010-02-27:
Abuscemi... you can still write letters to him. That's what they did in the "olden" days. What about visitations?
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